Perspective on carbon nanotubes as conducting agent in lithium-ion batteries: the status and future challenges

Kim Jin Hee; Kim Sumin; Jong Hun Han (한종훈); Seo Sol Bin (서솔빈); Choi Yu Rim; Lim Jinsub; Yoong Ahm Kim (김융암)

doi:10.1007/s42823-022-00449-0

Perspective on carbon nanotubes as conducting agent in lithium-ion batteries: the status and future challenges

Carbon Letters
Abbr : Carbon Lett.
2023, 33(2), pp.325~333
DOI : 10.1007/s42823-022-00449-0
Publisher : Korean Carbon Society
Research Area : Natural Science > Natural Science General > Other Natural Sciences General
Received : October 13, 2022
Accepted : December 18, 2022
Published : March 1, 2023

Kim Jin Hee ¹, Kim Sumin ², Jong Hun Han ¹, Seo Sol Bin ³, Choi Yu Rim ⁴, Lim Jinsub ⁵, Yoong Ahm Kim ³

¹Optoelectronics Convergence Research Center, Faculty of Engineering, Chonnam National University
²School of Chemical Engineering, Chonnam National University
³전남대학교
⁴Department of Polymer Engineering, Graduate School, School of Polymer Science and Engineering & Alan G. MacDiarmid Energy Research Institute, Chonnam National University
⁵Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH)

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The inclusion of conductive carbon materials into lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is essential for constructing an electrical network of electrodes. Considering the demand for cells in electric vehicles (e.g., higher energy density and lower cell cost), the replacement of the currently used carbon black with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) seems inevitable. This review discusses how CNTs can contribute to the development of advanced LIBs for EVs. First, the reason for choosing CNTs as a conducting agent for the cathode is discussed in terms of energy density. Second, the reinforcing effect of CNTs on the anode is described with respect to the choice of silicon as the active material. Third, the development of water-based cathode fabrication as well as dry electrode fabrication with aid of CNTs is discussed. Fourth, three technical hurdles, that is, the price, dispersion issue, and entrapped metal impurities, for widespread use of CNTs in LIBs are discussed.

KEYWORDS

Lithium-ion battery Carbon nanotube Energy density

Citation status

This is the result of checking the information with the same ISSN, publication year, volume, and start page between the WoS and the KCI journals. (as of 2025-07-17)

Total Citation Counts(KCI+WOS) (55) This is the number of times that the duplicate count has been removed by comparing the citation list of WoS and KCI.

Scopus Citation Counts (26) This is the result of checking the information with the same ISSN, publication year, volume, and start page between articles in KCI and the SCOPUS journals. (as of 2025-01-01)

* References for papers published after 2024 are currently being built.

[journal] Nykvist B / 2015 / Rapidly falling costs of battery packs for electric vehicles / Nat Clim Chang 5(4) : 329~332

[journal] Yan J / 2022 / Recent progress on the modification of high nickel content NCM : coating, doping, and single crystallization / Interdiscip Mater 1(3) : 330~353

[journal] Asenbauer J / 2020 / The success story of graphite as a lithium-ion anode material–fundamentals, remaining challenges, and recent developments including silicon(oxide)composites / Sustain Energy Fuels 4(11) : 5387~5416

[journal] Sotowa C / 2008 / The reinforcing effect of combined carbon nanotubes and acetylene blacks on the positive electrode of lithium-ion batteries / Chemsuschem 1(11) : 911~915

[journal] Endo M / 2001 / Vapor-grown carbon fibers(VGCFs)basic properties and their battery applications / Carbon 39 : 1287~1297

[journal] Manthiram A / 2020 / A reflection on lithium-ion battery cathode chemistry / Nat Commun 11(1) : 1~9

[journal] Ding N / 2018 / Rational design of a high-energy LiNi0. 8Co0. 15Al0. 05O2cathode for Li-ion batteries / Solid State Ionics 323 : 72~77

[journal] Sheem K / 2006 / High-density positive electrodes containing carbon nanotubes for use in Li-ion cells / J Power Sources 158 : 1425~1430

[journal] Ju Z / 2020 / Unveiling the dimensionality effect of conductive fillers in thick battery electrode for high energy storage systems / Appl Phys Rev 7 : 04105~

[journal] Lin C-H / 2022 / Dimensionality effect of conductive carbon fillers in LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 cathode / Carbon 188 : 114~125

[journal] Gong C / 2016 / Advanced carbon materials/olivine LiFePO4 composites cathode for lithium ion batteries / J Power Sources 318 : 93~112

[journal] Asenbauer J / 2020 / The success story of graphite as a lithium-ion anode material—fundamentals, remaining challenges, and recent developments including silicon(oxide)composites / Sustain Energy Fuels 4(11) : 5387~5416

[journal] Lee Seung Eun / 2021 / Effect of crystallinity and particle size on coke-based anode for lithium ion batteries / Carbon Letters / 한국탄소학회 31(5) : 911~920

[journal] Landi BJ / 2009 / Carbon nanotubes for lithium ion batteries / Energy Environ Sci 2(6) : 638~

[journal] Li L / 2014 / Progress in application of CNTs in lithium-ion batteries / J Nanomater 2014 : 1~8

[journal] Chou S-L / 2010 / Silicon/single-walled carbon nanotube composite paper as a flexible anode material for lithium ion batteries / J Phys Chem C 114(37) : 15862~15867

[journal] Pedaballi S / 2020 / Effects of surface modification and organic binder type on cell performance of water-processed Ni-rich Li(Ni0. 8Co0. 1Mn01)O2 cathodes / J Power Sources 472 : 228552~

[journal] Orlenius J / 2012 / Water based processing of LiFePO4/C cathode material for Li-ion batteries utilizing freeze granulation / J Power Sources 213 : 119~127

[journal] Kim J-M / 2020 / Nanofibrous conductive binders based on DNA-wrapped carbon nanotubes for lithium battery electrodes / Iscience 23(11) : 101739~

[journal] Zhang G / 2019 / Double-helix-superstructure aqueous binder to boost excellent electrochemical performance in Li-rich layered oxide cathode / J Power Sources 420 : 29~37

[journal] Castelevecchi D / 2021 / Electric cars : the battery challenge / Nature 596 : 4~

[journal] Hippauf F / 2019 / Overcoming binder limitations of sheet-type solid-state cathodes using a solvent-free dry-film approach / Energy Storage Materials 21 : 390~398

[journal] Wang K / 2013 / Hybrid super-aligned carbon nanotube/carbon black conductive networks : a strategy to improve both electrical conductivity and capacity for lithium ion batteries / J Power Sources 233 : 209~215

[journal] 박지홍 / 2020 / Continuous synthesis of high-crystalline carbon nanotubes by controlling the configuration of the injection part in the floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition process / Carbon Letters / 한국탄소학회 30(6) : 613~619

[journal] Luo S / 2010 / Comparison of ultrasonication and microfluidization for high throughput and large-scale processing of SWCNT dispersions / Carbon 48(10) : 2992~2994

[journal] Kim Youn / 2021 / Evaluation of carbon nanotubes dispersion in aqueous solution with various dispersing agents / Carbon Letters / 한국탄소학회 31(6) : 1327~1337

[journal] Pumera M / 2007 / Carbon nanotubes contain residual metal catalyst nanoparticles even after washing with nitric acid at elevated temperature because these metal nanoparticles are sheathed by several graphene sheets / Langmuir 23(11) : 6453~6458

[journal] Chng ELK / 2013 / Purification of carbon nanotubes by high temperature chlorine gas treatment / Phys Chem Chem Phys 15(15) : 5615~5619

[journal] Desforges A / 2016 / Dramatic enhancement of double-walled carbon nanotube quality through a one-pot tunable purification method / Carbon 110 : 292~303

This paper was written with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.

KJCKorea
Journal Central

Carbon Letters 2024 KCI Impact Factor : 0.95 KCI-WoS Impact Factor : 5.79

Perspective on carbon nanotubes as conducting agent in lithium-ion batteries: the status and future challenges

ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS

Citation status

This is the result of checking the information with the same ISSN, publication year, volume, and start page between the WoS and the KCI journals. (as of 2025-07-17)

Total Citation Counts(KCI+WOS) (55) This is the number of times that the duplicate count has been removed by comparing the citation list of WoS and KCI.

Scopus Citation Counts (26) This is the result of checking the information with the same ISSN, publication year, volume, and start page between articles in KCI and the SCOPUS journals. (as of 2025-01-01)

* References for papers published after 2024 are currently being built.

Carbon Letters 2024 KCI Impact Factor : 0.95 KCI-WoS Impact Factor : 5.79

Perspective on carbon nanotubes as conducting agent in lithium-ion batteries: the status and future challenges

ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS

Statistics

Tools

Issue List

Citation status

KCI Citation Counts (11)

WoS Citation Counts (44) This is the result of checking the information with the same ISSN, publication year, volume, and start page between the WoS and the KCI journals. (as of 2025-07-17)

Total Citation Counts(KCI+WOS) (55) This is the number of times that the duplicate count has been removed by comparing the citation list of WoS and KCI.

Scopus Citation Counts (26) This is the result of checking the information with the same ISSN, publication year, volume, and start page between articles in KCI and the SCOPUS journals. (as of 2025-01-01)

REFERENCES (29) * References for papers published after 2024 are currently being built.

Search PDF

Citation

This is the result of checking the information with the same ISSN, publication year, volume, and start page between the WoS and the KCI journals. (as of 2025-07-17)

* References for papers published after 2024 are currently being built.